McDonald's games to return to Chicago in 2013

The McDonald’s All-American games will return to the United Center in Chicago in 2013, organizers announced Tuesday at a media day event for Wednesday’s games.

After hosting the McDonald’s games last March, Chicago became the first city to host back-to-back games this year. McDonald’s All-American games director Douglas Freeland said that the support of the city and the United Center and Chicago Bulls staffs played a major role in the decision to bring the event back for the third consecutive year.

“The city of Chicago pushed us to make the decision; the fan support pushed us to make it,” Freeland said of the decision that was made last week. “Everybody at the United Center and the Chicago Bulls has embraced the McDonald’s All-American games and has been very generous to us. We felt like based on what we saw last year, and the overall support, bringing it back in 2013 would be the right move.”

The McDonald’s girls game will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the United Center and will be followed by the boys game at 8:30 p.m. Three local girls will play in the game: Niles West’s Jewell Loyd, Bolingbrook’s Morgan Tuck and Young’s Janee Thompson.

“That’s just awesome,” said Zion-Benton girls coach Tanya Johnson, who is coaching the girls West team. “This is a sports city. Having the opportunity to have it here and grow it is great for McDonald’s and great for the city of Chicago. And it’s great for my players, to be able to get our kids here to see these young women who really are so highly talented.”